In this powerful Advent reading, we journey with young Jotham as he faces his darkest hour—captured by the ruthless Decha, threatened with death, and seemingly abandoned to despair. Yet in the moment when all hope appears lost, rescue arrives unexpectedly through Nathan's hand. This gripping narrative mirrors the central truth of Christmas itself: that God comes to us in our most desperate moments, often in ways we never anticipated. The passage from Psalm 68 reminds us that our God is 'a God who saves' and provides 'escape from death.' Just as Nathan arrived at precisely the right moment to rescue Jotham, God sent Jesus at exactly the right time in human history to rescue us from sin and selfishness. What makes this story so relevant to our lives is the choice it presents us. Jotham must decide whether to trust his rescuer and quietly escape, or to act impulsively and invite destruction. We face similar choices daily—will we trust God's timing and methods, or will we insist on our own way? Will we live selfishly, inviting chaos into our lives, or will we follow Jesus's example of putting others first? As we light the candles of hope, peace, and joy this Advent season, we're reminded that salvation isn't just a one-time event but a daily choice to accept God's rescue and extend that same grace to others.